Japan's Abe to meet Trump in hastily arranged NY meeting

Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 01:16

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants to build a relationship of trust when he meets U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, stressing that the two-way alliance is the core of Tokyo's diplomacy and security. Mana Rabiee reports.

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Shinzo Abe will be the first foreign leader to meet President-elect Donald Trump, since Trump's election victory.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHINZO ABE, SAYING:
"I'd like to build trust with U.S. President-elect Trump and moreover, work together for prosperity and world peace"
World peace may be a tall order, but Abe is seeking to build a cooperative relationship.
Nominee Trump described the U.S. relationship with Japan as "unfair".
He sent waves of concern around the world when he said Japan should get its own nuclear weapons, and that Tokyo should help pay for American forces in Japan or see them pulled out.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP SAYING:
"It's not even a question of not fair. It's not smart, it's not good and they don't even respect us for it."
The meeting's agenda is still unclear...Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway telling reporters that's partly out of respect for President Obama.
(NATS CONWAY)
"We're really happy that the meeting is happening."
It'll be the first of many aimed at calming nervous allies, rattled by candidate Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric.

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